The New England Journal of Medicine has posted images and clinical detail on disseminated fusariosis, a serious fungal infection most likely to affect people with weakened immune systems.
The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) shared a clinical case on disseminated fusariosis — a rare but serious infection caused by Fusarium fungi — through its Images in Clinical Medicine series. The post was tagged under haematology and infectious disease, signalling that the primary concern is for patients undergoing treatment for blood disorders or those whose immune systems are suppressed.
Disseminated fusariosis occurs when a Fusarium fungal infection spreads beyond a single site in the body, reaching the bloodstream and multiple organs. The NHS advises that fungal infections of this severity are rare in healthy people but carry serious risks for those with conditions such as leukaemia or who have had a bone marrow transplant (stem cell transplant).
The infection is not passed between people.
Kent residents receiving treatment for blood cancers or other conditions that affect immunity — including patients at East Kent Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust — should raise any concerns about infection symptoms with their clinical team rather than waiting to contact a GP. Symptoms to watch for, according to NHS guidance, include:
- Persistent high temperature or fever
- Skin lesions or unusual rashes
- Fatigue that worsens quickly
- Signs of infection that do not respond to standard antibiotics
For urgent health concerns, call NHS 111 or, in an emergency, 999.
Key information
- Who is most at risk: People with weakened immune systems, especially those being treated for blood disorders or who have had a stem cell transplant
- If you are concerned: Contact your specialist clinical team directly — do not wait for a routine GP appointment
- General health queries: Call NHS 111 (24 hours a day, seven days a week)
- Emergencies: Call 999
Source: @NEJM